Clothespin



Patented Jan. 17, 1950 UNITED sur ss PATENT OFFICE ,Azcpad J. condos andMinnie B. .Gordos, 'Clym'cr, Pa.

Application October 11, 1946,SerialiNo.-f02;840

This invention relates to clothes pins and particularly a clothes pin inwhich one of the jaws is separable and resiliently mounted on the bodyof the pin by a spring.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a clothes pin in which thejaws will not spread, or release the clothes except when externalpressure is applied, and which may readily be applied by pressingdownward over the clothes and line.

The clothes pin of this invention may be round, oval, hexagon, square,or of any suitable shape, and may be made of wood, metal, plastic, orany material.

The object of the invention is to provide a clothes pin that may readilybe applied, that will remain in place, that may readily be removed, andthat will not tear the clothes.

Another object is to provide a clothes pin that will not split.

A further object is to provide a clothes pin in which the grippingpressure on the clothes will increase as the thickness of the clothes isincreased.

With these and other objects in view the invention embodies a clothespin preferably having a head, and a stationary jaw integral with thehead, a complementar movable jaw positioned in a recess in the pin, anda spring positioned in recesses in the inner surfaces of the jaws withthe ends thereof wrapped around the outer surfaces of the jaws.

Various other and more detailed objects and advantages such as arise inconnection with the manufacture, design, and operation of the clothespin in accordance with the above noted objectives will in part becomeapparent, and in part be hereinafter stated, as the description of theinvention proceeds.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view showing a side elevation of the clothes pin with thejaws having plain inner gripping surfaces.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the gripping surface of the movablejaw corrugated.

Figure 3 is also a similar view showing the gripping surfaces of both ofthe jaws corrugated.

Figure 4 is an edge view of. the clothes pin looking at the left-handside of the pin as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Figure 5 is a similar view looking toward the opposite side, with themovable jaw omitted, showin the spring.

Figure 6 is a view looking toward the movable jaw side, with part brokenaway.

Figure 7 is a cross section on line 7-4 of Figure 1 showing the shape ofthe spring and the relative positions of the parts.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denotecorresponding parts the clothes pin of this invention includes astationary jaw ID, a movable jaw H, and a spring l2.

The clothes pin may be made with or without a head l3, as may bedesired, and when a head is used the jaw i0 is formed integral therewithand a recess I4 is provided in the opposite side for the complementaryor movable jaw H as shown and has a shoulder at the head end thereof.The movable jaw II is similar to the jaw l0 except that the upper end i5is relieved or curved to clear the shoulder of the head end of therecess and facilitate opening thereof. The lower ends l6 and I! of thejaws are curved inwardly to provide a receiving opening at the lower endof the pin.

The inner surfaces of the jaws are provided with substantiallysemi-circular recesses l8 and IS in which the spring I2 is mounted.

The spring I2 is formed with a central coil which is positioned in therecesses l8 and I9, and the ends 20 and 2| extending from the coil wraparound the outer surfaces of the jaws as shown in Figure 7. The ends ofthe spring may be em- .bedded in the surfaces of the jaws in recesses 22and 23 as shown in Figure 3.

In the design shown in Figure 2 the clothes pin is provided with a jaw24 similar to the jaw H, except that the inner gripping surface isroughened with transverse ridges forming corrugations 25, to facilitategripping, and in the design shown in Figure 3 the gripping surfaces ofboth jaws are roughened, the pin being formed with a jaw 26. similar tothe jaw I0, and the inner gripping surface thereof is provided withcorrugations 21.

It will be understood that other changes may be made in the design orconstruction without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The construction will be readily understood from the foregoingdescription. In use the clothes may be held over the line with one handand the pin may be held by the upper end or head with the other hand andpressed downward over the clothes and line wherein the movable jaw willopen sufliciently to pass over the clothes, and being resiliently heldby the spring, will remain in place, frictionally gripping the clothesand line. When the clothes are dry the pins may readily be removed by aslight upward pull on their upper ends.

What is claimed is:

A clothes pin comprising an'integral head and jaw member having ajaw-received recess in one side thereof, said recess having a shoulderat its head end, a separate jaw in said recess, a spring having a coilportion between said jaws adjacent said head, and a pair of legsextending one from each end of said coil portion and around respectivejaws, said jaws having spring-coil-receiving recesses in the opposedfaces thereof adjacent 4 said head and said separate jaw having arounded outer end portion adjacent said shoulder to permit opening andclosing movements of said separate jaw relative to said integral jaw.

ARPAD J. GORDOS.

MINNIE B. GORDOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IE'NTS Number Name Date 160,661 Farrington et a1 Mar.9, 1875 365,755 Moore June 28, 1887 638,507 Graves Dec. 5, 18991,088,553 Dostal Feb. 24, 1914 1,132,170 Dewinsky Mar. 16, 19151,487,083 Zimmermann Mar. 18, 1924 1,499,046 Woop June 24, 1924 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date Germany May 9, 1921

